Method and apparatus for photographing.



H. H, GURTISS.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1911.

Patnted May 19, 1911 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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H. H. GURTISS. METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING. APPLICATION FILEDJUNE 21, 1911.;

1,097,120. Patented May 19, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q 011; 05; :1 L: SMUQM-FOZ O c L 1 in i v HENRY i1. ctm'riss; or NEWYORK, N. Y.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAP- HING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 21, 1911. Serial No. 634,585.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IIENRY I'l. Ciumss, acitizen of the United States ol? America, 1"- siiling in the city of NewYork and State of New York. have invented an Improved Method andApparatus for Photographing, of u hich the following is a specification.

The principal object of my invention is to photograph objects by assimple a. method and apparatus as possible, and specially to photographthe appearance of surfaces, such as writing, printing, designs andpictures.

My invention consists in'the method and apparatus herein described andset forth in the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an embodiment of my apparatus bywhich'n y improved method. may be carried out, 111 whichi Figure 1.is. atransverse section on the line .-\A of Fig. 3, 2 an end view, Fig. 3 alongitudinal centralsection on the line J--l3 of Pig. 1, butwithfoneofthe'reels removed, and Fig. 4: a detail.

Similar characters represent all the figures. p

l an oblong; ca-singyorbox preferably of light sheetmetal, [such f asjalmninunn like parts in This casing is entirely" closed"*eXceptlffor.narrow .slot or opening 2 at-its bottom .extending longitudmallyfromendg-to end of.

the casing. p

Elisa lamp supported withinthe casing l above the opening 2, andpreferably extending about the lengthof said opening.

Said lamp may he an incandescent electric lamp, such asshown intbedrawings, or any other lamp producing a bright light.

,-l. is'a reflector in the form of a casing, surrounding the top andsides of the lamp 3, and having its sides at .the bottom conlraeted andterminating near the edges of the opening 2, but leaving a narrow ion--gritudinal space or slit 5 between said edges a nd sides through whicha-strip of sensitized paper or film may pass without friction, but so asto practically prevent. the admission of light to the interior of thecasing 1 from the outside. The ends.6 of the reflector casing at slopeupwardly and inwardly so as to assist the top and sides of the reflectorlin deflecting the light from the lamp through i the opening 2. Theinner surfacesof the re tlecror 4 6 should be of highly light re- 1Patented May 19.1914.

i 7 is an oblong plate of clear transparent glass or similar materialclosing the open bottom of the reflector t. .I have shown in i thedrawings this plate 7 with a downwardly extending flange or tenon 7 toeither side of which the bottom of the reflector edges are turned, so asto hold said plate in place.

8 1s a strip of transparent or translucent sensitized material on whichthe photograph is to be taken. This strip is wound upon a reel 9journaled inside the casing 1.

10 is a reel wound with a strip of opaque paper or similar material 11,said reel being journaled in the casing l in a similar manner to thereel 9. 12 is a take-up. reel also ournaled in the casip 1 and which isadapted to wind up thestnpS after the exposure of the same and alsotowind with it the. j:

opaque strip, 11. from the reel 10, to prevent,-

undue exposureto the. sensitized strip after the photograplrhas beentaken on it. The p reel l2 is .causedto automatically wind up the strips8 and 11 bythe uncoiling of a previously coiled spring, aswillhereinafter be described.

1 13- are two sets of'guide plat-es arranged i on either side of .the*reflector l and between it and the .bottom of the casing .1, andpreferably sons to cover "the .strip 4. fromthe opening2 tosomedistance, above said opening- These guides shouldalso be curved andarranged as to have no edges orv corners against which. the strip. 8could rub.

They may also, in order to protect the strip 8 from the light, beprovided with black or light absorbing surfaces.

The delivery reel 9 bearing the. non-exposed sensitized stripisseparated from the take-up reel. 12 by a longitudinal partition 1%dividing the casing 1 into two compa-rtments. The surfaces of-thispartition 14 are preferably coated black or are light absorbing. Thestrip 8 should. be. fed down between the nearest set of guide plates13,- .through the nearest slit 5, under the glass.

plate 7, up through the next slit 5, and between the second set of guideplates 13 to the take-up roller 12, to. whichthe opaque strip 11 shouldalso be fed. The long-opposite sides of the slot or opening 2. at thebot* tom of the casing 1 are formed of the lower edges of two oppositelysloping sides 1 5.

This construction provides not only that the plate 7 or what is under itmay be the only contact surface of the apparatus with the surface to bephotographed, but that all the rest of the surface to be photographedthat is not covered by the plate 7, can be seen.

The take up reel has a round socket 16 at the center of one end, and apost 17 angular in cross-section extending from the center of the otherend. A round pin 18 passes loosely through one end 19 of the easmg 1 andis supported in bearings 20 on the outside of said casing. This pin 18is provided with a transverse projection or pin 21 and a coil spring 22surrounding the pin 18 and bearing upon the cross pin 21 tends to bearsaid rod inward. A ring or other handle 23 attached to the outer end ofthe rod serves to draw the same outward (against the action of thespring) and away fromthe reel 12.

The winding up mechanism of the reel 12 is the following 24 is a coilspring casing provided with a central circular hub 25' j ournaled in acorresponding hole in the end 26 of the casing l (opposite to the end19). This hub 25 is provided with an angular socket within which thepost 17 may enter and be held. The spring casing 24 is provided with acircular flange 27 having arranged at intervals thereon, recesses 28.with which engages a spring dog or clutch 29. 30 is a post looselyjournaled in a circular socket 30 in the casing 24, and in a fixedbearing 31 in front of said casing. 32 is a coil spring surrounding thepost 30 Within the casing 24, and which is secured at the inner end tosaid post, and at the outer end to the surrounding wall of the casing.Secured to the post 30 is a toothed or ratchet wheel 33, and 34 is apawl or dog loosely pivoted to the'bearing 31 and engaging with theteeth of said wheel. 35 is a handle sccured to the outer end of the post30, by which the same may be turned to wind up the spring, said Windingcausing the teeth of the wheel 33 to ride over the pawl 34, but the pawl(unless raised) preventing the unwinding of the spring from its center.lVhen thedog 29 is in engagement with one of the recesses 28, the spring32 is prevented from unwinding from the outside, but if 'said dogbe'withdrawn from such engage- .ment, the spring Will unwind from theoutside, and cause the casing 24 to revolve, as also the reel 12 if itspost 17 is within the socket of the hub 25. 36 is the handle by whichthe apparatus is manipulated for photographing. This handle isho-llow,as is shown in Fig. 3, and is secured to the top of thecasing 1. 37 is a vertically movable rod extending longitudinally withinsaid handle through guide ways 38, and 39. The lower end of rod 37loosely engages with one arm of a lever 40, the other arm of said leverbeing connected with an upward eX- tension of the dog 29 by a wire orother flexible connection 41. This connection is inclosed within atubular casing 42 for the protection of the same. 43 is an electricalterminal secured to the upper surface of the support of guide 3'9, and44 is the opposite electric terminal above 43, and on the under surfaceof a block 45 secured to the rod 37. A coil spring 46 between the guide38 and a knob 47, tends to normally keep the rod 37 raised, and theterminal 44 away from terminal 43. 3 is an incandescent lamp, the outersurface of which is preferably cylindrical, as shown at 48. The lampextends through the sloping ends 6 of the reflector 4, and is supportedin tubular sockets 40 extending inward from the ends of the casing 1.The two line wires 50 and 51 from any source of electric supply areconnected spectively with one of the lamp terminals, and with themovable terminal 44, which is operated by the rod 37, and the connectingline 52 to complete the circuit when the two terminals are in contact,connects the other terminal of the lamp 3 with the fixed contact 43 inthe handle 36.

Wherever it is possible the surfaces inside the casing 1, and theoutside surfaces of the reflector 4, should be black or light absorbing.I have shown the electric lines in the figures diagrammatically, but inpractical use they should be inclosed within the handle 36 and easing 1,and they and the terminals should be properly insulated from, otherparts and devices. The reels 9 and 10 may be removably journaled in thecasing 1 in any well known manner.

If it be desired to photograph a picture, design, or printed page, asfor example on the surface of a sheet 53 (see Fig. 1) the spring 32should be first wound up'as above described, the sensitized strip 8should be fed between one set of guides 13, under and across the glass7, up between the other guides 13 to the reel 12, and the opaque strip11 from the reel 10 should be fed to the reel 12. The apparatus shouldnext be placed with the part of strip 8 that is under the glass 7resting at the beginning 54 of the printing or: design or printing atthe top of the page, with the-glass 7 extending along and over the uppere'nd of the printing or design. There will then be practically noexposure of the strip to any light from outside the apparatus. The knob47 should then be depressed. This action coinpletcs the electric circuit(by bringing into contact the terminals 43 and 44) and lights the lamp3, causing a stron light to be projected through the glass ,andsensitized strip 8 to the design or printing, and refiected back uponthe strip 8, on which said design or printing will be photographed.

' The depression of the knob 47 will cause the raising of thedog 2%)from one of the recesses 28, and thus release the spring 32, to permitit to rotate the reel 12, if not otherwise prevented. As long as anymaterial pressure remains on any portion of the surface of the strip 8,the spring 32 will not rotate the reel 12. By slowly drawing the devicedownward with the glass 7 over the printing 01' design in the directionof the arrow (Fig. l), the strip 8 will be gradually drawn off the reel9 between the glass 7 and surface of 53, and be exposed to the light andsaid surface photographed thereon, and immediately afterward drawn upand around the reel 12 by the action of the spring 32, which also drawsupon said reel the opaque strip 11 to further protect the previouslyexposed strip 8 from the light. As soon as the pres sure on the knob 47is released the circuit will be broken, the light of the lamp put out,the dog 29 will be forced into oneof the recesses 28, and the sprin 32will be held, and there will be no furt ier winding of, the reel 12. Thepreviously exposedstrip can be used if desired from which to print otherphotographs.

My invention is particularly adapted for copying pictures, designs andprinting upon plane surfaces.

It will be evident that my invention is not limited to the precisemethod above, described and that the apparatus above described may bevaried or changed in many respects without departing from the invention.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

i 1. The improved method of photograph ing, consisting in insertingdifferent portions of a sensitized strip successively tween the objectto be photographed'and a source of light, and withdrawing said portionsof the strip from the action ofv light.

2. The improved method-of photographing, consisting in placing asensitized strip between the object to be photographed and asource-oflight, causing different portions of said strip and ob ect tobe successively sub ected to and released from the action of the light,and drawing within a practically light tight casing the portion of thestrip that had been exposed to the light.

3. The improved method of photographing, consisting in placing asensitized strip between the object to be photographed and a source oflight, causing successive portions of said strip to pass betweensuccessive portions of the object to be photographed and the light, anddrawing within a practically light tight casing the portion of the stripthat had been exposed to-tlie light.

42. An apparatus for photographing, comlight' and having means throughwhich the light may'p'ass, a practically light tight casing for holdinga sensitized strip, the apparatus being adapted to have said stripextending across said means and between the 5 tending across said meansand between the source of light and the object to be photographed, andmeans for drawing saidstrip from the light passage and within thecasing.

6. An app aratus for photographing, comprising a light projecting devicehaving means through which the light is projected, a practically lighttight casing for containing a sensitized strip, and the apparatusadapted to have said strip extending over said means and between saiddevice and :llie object to be photographed, and a device for drawingsaid strip from said means and withinsaid casing.

'7. An apparatus for photographing, comprising a light] projectingdevice having means through which the light is projected, a practicallylight tight receptacle for containing a sensitized strip and theapparatus adapted to have a portion of said strip extending over saidmeans, and between said device and the object to be photographed and adevice for drawing said strip from said means and away from exposure tolight.

8. An apparatus for photographing, comprising a lightprojecting devicehaving means through which the light is pro ected,

a practically light tight casing for containmg a sensitized strip andsurrounding said device so that a passageway is formed between saidcasing and means/for the strip, and the strip adapted to extend oversaid means and between the light projecting device and the object to bephotographed, all

as and for the purposes set forth.

9. An apparatus for photographing, comprising. a light projecting devicehaving means through which the-light is projected,

a practically light tight casing for contain-' ing-a sensitized stripand surrounding said device so that passageways are formed betweenopposite sides of said means and casing for the strip. and the stripadapted to extend over said means and between the light projectingdevice and the object to be photographed, and a device in said casingfor drawing said strip from said means and within said casing."

10. An apparatus for photographing, comprising a lamp casing which ispractiprising a device for holding a source ofi cally light tight excepta small area through \\'hic h the light may be projected, a practicallylight tight casing for containing a sensitized strip and surrounding thelamp casing so that a passageway is formed between said casing andareafor the strip, and the strip adapted to extend over said area andbetween the lamp casing and the object to be photographed, all as andfor the purposes set forth.

11. An apparatus for photographing, comprising a lamp casing whlch 1spractically light tight except a small area through which the light maybe projected, a practically light tight casing for containing asensitized strip and surrounding the lamp casing so that passageways areformed between opposite sides of said area and the caslng for the strip,and means in said casing for drawing said strip from said area andwithin said casing.

12. An apparatus for photographing, comprising a lamp casing which ispractically light tight except a small area through which the light maybe projected, and said casing formed to deflect the light through saidarea, a practically light tight casing for containing a sensitized stripand surrounding the lamp casing so that passageways are formed betweenopposite sides of said area and the casing for the strip, and means insaid casing for drawing said strip from said area and within saidcasing;

13. An apparatus for photographing, comprising a lamp casing, which ispractically light tight except a small area, a trans lucent platefilling said area, and through which the light may be projected, apractically light tight casing for containing a sensitized strip andsurrounding the lamp casing so that a passageway is formed between saidcasing and plate for the strip, whereby said strip maybe drawn outsideof said apparatus and across said plate.

14;. An apparatus for photographing, comprising a lamp casing, which ispractically light tight except a small area, a translucent plate fillingsaid area, and through which the light may be projected, a practicallylight tight casing for containing a sensitized strip and surrounding thelamp casing so that passageways are formed between opposite sides ofsaid plate and the casing for the strip, and means in said casing fordrawing said strip from said plate and within said casing.

15. An apparatus for photographing, comprising a light projecting devicehaving lneans'through which the light is projected, a practically lighttight casing for containing a sensitized strip and inclosing said deviceso that passageways are formed between opposite sides of said openingand the easing for the strip, means in said casing for drawing saidstrip across said means and within said casing, and a light tightpartition in said casing separating the delivery portion of said stripfrom the part that is to be drawn back into the casing.

16. An apparatus for photographing, comprising a lamp casing, which ispractically light tight except a small area through which the light maybe projected, and said casing formed to deflect the light through saidarea, a practically light tight casing for containing a sensitized stripand surrounding the lamp casing so that passageways are formed betweenopposite sides of said area and the casing for the strip,

- means in said casing for drawing said strip take up reel also inclosedwithin said cas mg, means for holding the tension of said spring, andmeans for releasing said holding means, whereby the spring may rotatesaid reel and cause it to wind up said strip with in the casing after ithas been extended across the light area outside of the casing.

18. An apparatus for photographing, comprising a lamp casing which isprac-' tically light tight except a small area through which the lightmay be projected, a practically light tight casing. surrounding the lampcasing, a reel for a sensitized strip inclosed in said surroundingcasing, a spring take up reel also inclosed within said casing, meansfor holding the tension of said spring, and movable means in a positionto be controlled by the operator for releasing said holding means,whereby the spring may 1' tate said reel and cause it to wind up saidstripwithin the casing after it has been extended across the light areaoutside of the casin 19. An apparatus for photographing, comprising alamp casing which is practically light tight except a small area throughwhich the light may be projected, an electric lamp inclosed therein, apractically light tight casing surrounding the lamp casing, a reel for asensitized strip inclosed in said surrounding casing, a spring take upreel also inclosed within said cas ing; means for holding the tension ofsaid spring, a circuit breaker adapted to be electrically connected withsaid lamp, and means connecting said circuit breaker with the springholding means, whereby the action of completing the circuit to light thelamp will release said holding means, so

through which the light may be projected,

an electric lamp inclosed therein, a practically light tight easingsurrounding the lamp casing, a reel for a sensitized strip inclosed insaid surrounding casing, a spring take up reel also inclosed within saidcaslng,

means for holding the tension of said 5 ring, a normally broken circuitbreaker a apted to be electrically connect-ed with said lamp,

and means connecting said circuit breaker. with the spring holdingmeans, whereby the action of completing the circuit to light the lampwill release said holding means, so that the take up reel can wind upsaid strip.

21. An apparatus for photographing, comprising a lamp casing which ispractically light tight except a small area through which the light maybe projected, an electric lamp inclosed therein, a practically lighttight casing surrounding the lamp casing, a reel for a sensitized stripinclosed in said surrounding casing, a sprin take up reel also inclosedwithin said casing, means for holding the tension of said spring, acircuit breaker adapted to be electrically connected with said lamp, atension spring for keeping the circuit normally broken, and meansconnecting said circuit breaker with the spring holding means, wherebythe action of completing the circuit to light the lamp Will release saidholding means, so that the take up reel can wind up said strip.

22. An apparatus for photographing surfaces, comprising a lamp casingwhich is practically light tight except a small area through which thelight may be projected, a

practically light tight casing surrounding the lamp casing, a reel fora. sensitized strip inclosed in said surrounding casing, aspring take upreel also inclosed within said. cas ing, means for holding the tensionof said spring, manually operated means for releasing the tension ofsaid spring, whereby the same may rotate said reel, and cause it to windup said strip after it has been extended across said light area, and theentire apparatus adapted to be moved over the surface to be photographedwith the exposed portion of the sensitized strip in contact with saidsurface.

' 23. An apparatus for photographing surfaces, comprising a lamp casingwhich is practically light tight except a small area through which thelight may be projected, a practically light tight casing surrounding thelamp casing, a reel for a sensitized strip inclosed in said surroundingcasing, a spring take up reel also inclosed within said casing, springoperating means for holding the tension of the spring of the take upreel,

manually operated means for releasing said holding means whereby thetake up reel will be caused to rotate and wind up said strip after ithas been extended across said light area, and the entire apparatusadapted to be 'nioved over the surface to be photographed with theexposed portion ofv the sensitized strip in contact with said surface.

2a. An apparatus for photographing surfaces, comprising a lamp casingwhich is n-acti'cally light tight exc'ept.a small area through which thelight may be projected, a practically light tight casing surrounding thelamp casing, a reel for a sensitized strip inclosed in said surroundingcasing, a spring take up reel also inclosed within said casing, springoperating means for holding the tension of the spring of the take upreel, means adapted to be manually operated to release said holdingmeans, whereby the take up reel will be caused to rotate and wind upsaid strip, and after it has been.

extended across said light area, a tension spring normally acting toprevent said' means from'operating, and theentire apparatus adapted tobe moved over the surface to be photographed with the exposed portion ofthe sensitized strip incontact with said surface.

25. An apparatus for photographing surfaces, comprising a lamp casingwhich is practically light tight except a small area through which thelight may be projected, a translucent plate filling said area, apractically light tight casing surrounding the lamp casing, a reel for asensitized strip inclosed in said surround ng casing, a spring take upreel also inclosed. Within said casing, means for holding the tension ofsaid ,-;p1'ing, manually operated means for releasing said holdingmeans, whereby the spring may rotate said reel, and cause it to wind upsaid strip after it has been extended across said plate, and the entireapparatus adapted to be moved over the surface to be photographed withthe exposed port-ion ofthe sensitized strip in contact with saidsurface.

26. An apparatus'for photographing surfaces, comprising a lamp casingwhich is practically light tight except a small'area through which thelight may be projected, an electric lamp inclosed therein, a practirallylight tight casing surrounding the lamp casing, a reel'for a sensitizedstrip inclosed in said surrounding casing, a spring take up reel alsoinclosed within said casing, means for holding the tension of saidspring, a circuit breaker adapted to be eleclrically connected with saidlamp, and manually operated means connecting said circuit breaker withthe spring holding means, whereby the action of said manually operatingmeans to complete the circuit to light the lamp, will release saidholding means so that'the take up reel can wind up said strip, and theentire apparatus adapted I to be moved over the surface to bephotographed with'the exposed portion of the sensitized strip in contactwith said surface.

27. An apparatus for photographing, comprising a lamp casing which ispractically light tight except a small area through which the light maybe projected, an electric lamp inclosed' therein, a practically lighttight casing surrounding the lamp casing, a reel for a sensitized stripinclosed in said surrounding casing, a spring take up reel also inclosedwithin said casing, means for holding the tension of said spring, a

circuit breaker adapted to be electrically r connected with said lamp,and means connecting said circuit breaker with the spring holding means,whereby the action of said circuit breaker will release said holdingmeans, so that the take up reel can wind up said strip.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY l-I. CURTISS.

\Vitnesses:

J. CALEB JUSTICE, SAML. W. IRWIN.

